“Only by It... Life Holds and Moves”: The Theme of Parental Love in I. S. Turgenev’s Works

The plot of Turgenev’s novellas and novels typically explore complex situations related to the relationship between a man and a woman. However, the theme of child/parent relations occupies an equally significant place in the writer’s work. In early works, he often solves it at the household level, in the form of parental concern for the socialization of their child, and sometimes it is also associated with the motive of parental authority. However, since the late 1850s, Turgenev’s portrayal of parental love takes on spiritual dimensions. Christian motifs, such as parental blessings and prayers for children, are becoming increasingly important. The intensification of such intonations also occurs in later years, when Turgenev is involved in the polemics relevant for that time about the relationship between the instinctive and the moral, including in child-parent relations, which captures even the animal world from him. In some of his later works, inspired by observations of birds, the writer depicts parental care for their offspring and translates these behaviors to a human context, underscoring the supernatural significance of parental love

Stabilizing perovskite solar cells with modified indium oxide electron transport layer

Despite the impressive progress, the perovskite solar cells are still under the stage of laboratory research, mainly because of their inferior operational stability. To improve the device lifetime, one of the most important strategies is to eliminate the undesirable side reactions between the functional layers. In this study, we present the thermal oxidation method to yield high-quality pristine and modified indium oxide films applied as efficient electron transport layers (ETLs) for perovskite cells in a planar n-i-p configuration. The cells incorporating In2O3 as ETL material can deliver comparable efficiencies with the reference SnO2- based devices while showing much superior operational stability. We attributed the observed stabilizing effect of indium oxide to its reduced chemical activity at the interface with the perovskite absorber layer. In particular, In2O3 can hardly oxidize I- to molecular iodine on the contrary to SnO2 and TiO2 known for their photocatalytic activity. We believe that this study may provide researchers with general guidelines to develop a large variety of ETL materials for efficient yet stable perovskite cells

Subphthalocyanines as electron mediators in biosensors based on phenol oxidases

The electron mediator properties of three subphthalocyanines (SubPcs) [hexa-chloro boron subphthalocyanine (ClSubPc), tri-tert-butyl boron subphthalocyanine (t-BuSubPc) and hexa-phenoxy boron subphthalocyanine (PhOSubPc)] in Tyrosinase and Laccase biosensors (deposited on ITO glass) for the detection of catechol and hydroquinone were evidenced. A particularly remarkable performance was observed in the PhOSubPc-Tyr sensor, which takes account of the π-π interactions between subphthalocyanine rings and the active sites of the enzymes. Mediated electron transfer between redox enzymes and the ITO electrode improved the limits of detection by one order of magnitude, reaching 10−7 mol·L−1 values. Studies at increasing scan rates confirmed the improvement of the charge transfer rates caused by the presence of the SubPcs. A bioelectronic tongue formed by an array of the SubPc based biosensors has been able to discriminate red wines according to their Total Polyphenol Index.2020-07-102020-07-1

MCD spectroscopy and TD-DFT calculations of a naphthalene-ring-bridged coplanar binuclear phthalocyanine dimer

Magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) spectroscopy and TD-DFT calculations are used to analyze the electronic structure and optical properties of an alkyl-substituted naphthalene-ring-bridged coplanar binuclear phthalocyanine dimer. An analysis of the MCD spectrum of the naphthalene-ring-bridged dimer relative to those of benzene-bridged compounds reported previously, demonstrates that there is a significantly weaker interaction between the two phthalocyanine rings. TD-DFT results obtained using the B3LYP functional with 6–31G basis sets were found to be problematic. Closer agreement with the experimental data is obtained when the CAM-B3LYP functional is used instead. The naphthalene-ring-bridged compound is found to be unsuitable for use as a photosensitizer for the formation of singlet oxygen, because the ΦT values are negligible

Дослідження токсичності плівкоутворювальних композицій на основі хітозану

The object of research is chitosan-based film-forming compositions with the addition of decoctions from medicinal plants: Sweet flag, Senegalia catechu, Ledum, Bergenia crassifolia; Common yarrow, Eucalyptus globulus, Eleutherococcus senticosus, Hypericum perforatum; Chamaenerion angustifolium, Iceland moss, Calendula officinalis, Urtica; Peppermint, Potentilla alba, Common tansy, Plantago major; Artemisia absinthium, Motherwort, Sage, Common sunflower.Medicinal herbs have biological activity (toxicity), which accompanies the main therapeutic effect and depends on the dose. Toxicity is not observed in all medicinal herbs, but among them there are strong and even poisonous. Presented in the composition, medicinal herbs based on 2 % chitosan are not studied for toxicity, therefore, to establish the safety of their use as a packaging for fruit and vegetables, this must be done.The developed compositions are examined for:1) toxicity using bacteriological methods by sowing on 5 % blood agar;2) manifestation of hemolysis zones and growth of B.cereus culture by diffusion into agar (well method).During the research, positive results are obtained:1) all samples are not toxic;2) hemolysis zones are not identified;3) there is a suppression of the growth of B.cereus culture, which grew on the surface of blood agar (growth retardation zones of culture B.cereus 0–34 mm).Further expansion of the study will allow the use of chitosan-based film-forming compositions that have differentiated properties with respect to solubility, sorption, bactericidal and antioxidant effects as a factor in increasing the biological value of food in the absence of toxicity in fruit and vegetable products.Из рассмотренных композиций на основе хитозана и на основе анализа характеристики лекарственных отваров было выбрано 20 видов для дальнейшего составления композиции с хитозаном 2 %. Для установления их безопасносного использования в плодоовощной продукции все образцы исследованы на токсичность и зоны гемолиза. При проведении исследований получены положительные результаты – не было обнаружено токсичности и зоны гемолиза.Із розглянутих композицій на основі хітозану та на основі аналізу характеристики лікарських відварів було обрано 20 видів для подальшого складання композиції з хітозаном 2 %. Для встановлення їх безпечного використання в плодоовочевій продукції всі зразки досліджені на токсичність та зони гемолізу. При проведенні досліджень отримані позитивні результати – не було виявлено токсичності та зони гемолізу

Efficacy of combined treatment of distal polyneuropathy in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and concomitant primaryhypothyroidism

Aim. To study changes of metabolic parameters and neurologic manifestations in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and concomitant primaryhypothyroidism under effect of combined therapy. Materials and methods. 62 patients with distal neuropathy (DN) including 16 with DM2 and primary hypothyroidism (PHT) (group 1), 32 DM2patients without thyroid pathology (group 2), and 15 patients with PHT without DM (group 3). The patients were matched for age and durationof all above diseases. They were treated by alpha lipoic acid-based drugs: thioctacid, thiogamma, berlithion, octolipen (600 U/d i/v), vitamins B:milgamma, combilipen (2 ml/d i/m) for 12 weeks. All measurements were made at admittance, 21 days and 12 weeks after it. The efficacy of therapywas estimated from changes in HbA1c levels, fasting and postprandial glycemia, lipid metabolism. DN was diagnosed using NSS, TSS, NDS, NDSm,and NIS-LL scales. Results. Combined therapy of patients with DM2 and PHT resulted in a decrease of HbA1c levels within 12 weeks, fasting and postprandialglycemia within 21 and 12 weeks respectively. Compensation of PHT led to a decrease of total cholesterol and triglyceride levels within 12 weeks.Subcompensation of carbohydrate metabolism (postprandial glycemia) improved neurologic symptoms within 21 weeks in all patients (NSS and TSSscales). The same effect was documented within 12 weeks in patients without thyroid pathology (NSS, TSS, NDS, NDSm, and NIS-LL scales). Inthose with PHT beneficial effect was revealed only using the NIS-LL scale. The worst outcome of therapy estimated from NSS, TSS, NDS, NDSm,and NIS-LL scales was documented in patients with DM2+PHT probably due to additional effect of thyroid pathology on the severity of DN. Conclusion. The use of NSS, TSS, NDS, NDSm, and NIS-LL scales makes it possible to reveal changes in the severity of sensorimotor disturbancesin DN patients depending on metabolic parameters modified by pathogenetic therapy

Chronic rhinitis and chronic tonsillitis of staphylococcal genesis in rabbits as laboratory animal model for experimental research

Current treatment and prevention of chronic rhinitis (CR) and chronic tonsillitis (CT) highlights the need for clinical trials in the respective laboratory model, of better options, including new medicaments. Therefore, to understand CR and CT via the laboratory model, the chronic pro-inflammatory process was simulated in laboratory animals (“Chinchilla” rabbits) using the reference Staphylococcus aureus strain 209P (ATCC 6538-P). Initial sensitizing of the laboratory animals with the inactivated causative agent and subsequently infecting the required area with the reference-strain made it possible to work out a reproducible model of both chronic rhinitis and chronic tonsillitis. Adequacy of CR and CT development was confirmed by the results of microbiological and pathomorphological investigations. The proposed laboratory model can be used to solve theoretical and practical medical current issues, as well as pharmacological topical problems

Research of Toxicity of Chitosan-based Film-forming Compositions

The object of research is chitosan-based film-forming compositions with the addition of decoctions from medicinal plants: Sweet flag, Senegalia catechu, Ledum, Bergenia crassifolia; Common yarrow, Eucalyptus globulus, Eleutherococcus senticosus, Hypericum perforatum; Chamaenerion angustifolium, Iceland moss, Calendula officinalis, Urtica; Peppermint, Potentilla alba, Common tansy, Plantago major; Artemisia absinthium, Motherwort, Sage, Common sunflower.Medicinal herbs have biological activity (toxicity), which accompanies the main therapeutic effect and depends on the dose. Toxicity is not observed in all medicinal herbs, but among them there are strong and even poisonous. Presented in the composition, medicinal herbs based on 2 % chitosan are not studied for toxicity, therefore, to establish the safety of their use as a packaging for fruit and vegetables, this must be done.The developed compositions are examined for:1) toxicity using bacteriological methods by sowing on 5 % blood agar;2) manifestation of hemolysis zones and growth of B.cereus culture by diffusion into agar (well method).During the research, positive results are obtained:1) all samples are not toxic;2) hemolysis zones are not identified;3) there is a suppression of the growth of B.cereus culture, which grew on the surface of blood agar (growth retardation zones of culture B.cereus 0–34 mm).Further expansion of the study will allow the use of chitosan-based film-forming compositions that have differentiated properties with respect to solubility, sorption, bactericidal and antioxidant effects as a factor in increasing the biological value of food in the absence of toxicity in fruit and vegetable products

The Same Metabolic Response to FGF21 Administration in Male and Female Obese Mice Is Accompanied by Sex-Specific Changes in Adipose Tissue Gene Expression

The preference for high-calorie foods depends on sex and contributes to obesity development. Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) beneficially affects taste preferences and obesity, but its action has mainly been studied in males. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of FGF21 on food preferences and glucose and lipid metabolism in C57Bl/6J male and female mice with diet-induced obesity. Mice were injected with FGF21 or vehicle for 7 days. Body weight, choice between standard (SD) and high-fat (HFD) diets, blood parameters, and gene expression in white (WAT) and brown (BAT) adipose tissues, liver, muscles, and the hypothalamus were assessed. Compared to males, females had a greater preference for HFD; less WAT; lower levels of cholesterol, glucose, and insulin; and higher expression of Fgf21, Insr, Ppara, Pgc1, Acca and Accb in the liver and Dio2 in BAT. FGF21 administration decreased adiposity; blood levels of cholesterol, glucose, and insulin; hypothalamic Agrp expression, increased SD intake, decreased HFD intake independently of sex, and increased WAT expression of Pparg, Lpl and Lipe only in females. Thus, FGF21 administration beneficially affected mice of both sexes despite obesity-associated sex differences in metabolic characteristics, and it induced female-specific activation of gene expression in WAT

Thin-film materials based on phthalocyanine derivatives: structure and physico-chemical properties

In order to establish the effect of the molecular structure of mix-substituted phthalocyanine derivatives on its supramolecular organization in thin-films, the floating layers of three A3B-type phthalocyanine derivatives were obtained. Their supramolecular organization was determined and it was found that the studied compounds form homogeneous stable floating layers on the water surface. Structure parameters of floating layers depend both on the length of aliphatic substituents (R = CnH2n+1) and the metal complexing agent. Ligands I and II form stable monolayer structures, which the layer packing periods increase with the elongation of aliphatic substituents: the lattice parameter (d) is 1.93 and 2.3 nm for ligands I (n = 6) and II (n = 8), correspondingly. During further compression of the formed monolayers, ligands I and II form stable bilayers, in which the arrangement of molecules remains similar to the structure of the previous monolayers. These bilayers contain minor inclusions of 3D aggregates. Metal complex III forms only stable monolayer (d = 2.06 nm), upon further compression of which 3D- aggregates included in the monolayer are formed